Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Justin Herbert vs Matthew Stafford

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Matthew Stafford has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.7-PPG advantage is real (20.6 to 17.9), and Matthew Stafford's 46 touchdowns show scoring upside. Justin Herbert is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBLos Angeles Chargers#10

Justin Herbert

PPG

17.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,727

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

498

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Justin Herbert

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

17.9 PPG20.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Herbert is producing at 81% of elite pace and Matthew Stafford at 94%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Herbert vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) finished the 2025 season averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) came in at 20.6 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Matthew Stafford carries a 2.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Matthew Stafford (4707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Justin Herbert sits Week 12 while Matthew Stafford is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Justin Herbert (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Justin Herbert by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Justin Herbert's 16. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Justin Herbert added 498 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Justin Herbert is 10 years younger than Matthew Stafford (28 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatHerbertStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)17.920.6

Games Played1617

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)286350

Passing Yards3,7274,707

Passing TDs2646

Pass Yds/Game232.9276.9

Rushing Yards4981

Rushing TDs20

Total TDs2846

TDs/Game1.82.7

Age2838

Experience5 yrs16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Matthew Stafford holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.6 points per game. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Justin Herbert or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Justin Herbert's 17.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 12, and Matthew Stafford (LAR) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Herbert or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Justin Herbert by 2.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.